Just travel ball. Is it enough?

A good summer team is a must.  Then pick and choose some camps where there will be colleges that your son is interested in, AND do some self promoting to those schools prior to going.

Agree with Lefthookdad, a good summer travel team with a good reputation is very beneficial. Son's summer team had a excellent reputation had several college coaches comment that they held the team in high regard and that the team/coach had consistently had talent and just as important they trust the coach's evaluation of his players.

Must events for me other than teams.

Area Code Tryout (free if invited) 

Arizona Fall Classic (and academic game if qualified) (Lots of summer teams go to this)

Fall Scout ball (again if West Coast not sure about rest of country) 

Summer team must go the PG Nationals (if West Midwest focused)

            and /or PG WWB Ft Meyers 

Stanford Camp if High Academic and/or Headfirst.

I think you need to figure out what is your objective for travel ball.  

Is it to get scholarships for college?  Pursue pro-ball at a later date? 

If it is just for college I would spend the energy in making high grades and trying to max out the ACT or SAT. This is free, for the most part.   Get your son involved in UIL academic teams.  

My 2nd older son received a full ride at a D1 university through academics. 

My objective is a free education for my son and no money out of my pocket. 

Good list of high profile events above.  I get a little lost in the various PG events; is the big end of summer tourney at East Cobb ( I think this is a PG event now, but not certain) similarly high profile as the WWB in Ft Meyers?

I have somewhat different view on travel ball. I have been reading on how important a really good travel team is and I understand the arguement but from my experience I think travel ball is a little overrated in terms of getting your son seen or recruited. My son played for a club travel team this past summer - 18U level - went to numerous "prestigious" tournaments - attended by many college and pro scouts.

However, most of the scouts I spoke with have a list of kids they are there to see - 95% of them pitchers. They were not there to find talent - they were there to evaluate players they already knew about. They would generally stay for a few innings and watch a kid or 2 pitch and then they were off to the next game or tournament. Now its possible that 1 or 2 of our kids stood out and they made notes while watching the kids they were there to see but after spending a summer listening to them - I am not sure the expense of travel ball is worth it unless your kid is a stud.

My thought is  - players have a better chance of standing out over the course of a camp or showcase instead of a during a baseball game.

I thought about next summer really targeting the 4-7 schools my son is interested in and going to their summer camps as opposed to spending money on a travel ball team.

Please keep in mind that my son got good coaching - and improved as a result of being on a competitive travel ball team but in regards to being seen or helping his recruiting - no - I don't think it was worth it. He got more contacts-dialogue from the 2 showcases he has attended than anything with his summer travel team.

One thing my wife and I always said about our son's travel team: it really seemed like a waste of money going through it all for 4 years.  But would he be the baseball player he is/was if it wasn't for the coaching and practicing and playing with his travel team.  We honestly think he would not be as "good" as he is now if it wasnt for that team and organization.

So what I would ask you is this.  Yes maybe your son was spotted at these 2 showcases, but was the talent that was spotted, built by your son's travel team?

My experience with travel teams is different than mentioned so far.  We did the PG events in East Cobb as well.  One of the biggest benefits we saw was that before every game, our coach would meet with the various scouts that had come to the game.  They would go over each player and give a brief summary on what that player had to offer.  We also did some "team showcases" at several different schools.  If there were schools that the kids were interested in, and that player was going to go to a camp for that school, the travel coach would call ahead and give those coaches a heads up about the player to get them on the radar.  So, it wasn't ONLY playing in those high profile events, but having a coach who could be an advocate for their players.  Having a coach with contacts in the college world makes a big difference IMHO. 

Absolutely - the coaching helped  - to what extent it is hard to say versus how much time he spends on his own trying to get better. One of the showcases was before the summer season started so the travel team did not help there but as I said  - he is a better ballplayer now.

Keep in mind - he will probably play on a summer travel team again as he enjoys it (and we enjoy watching the games) he does get better playing with and against better competition - but from a purely getting "seen" look  - I am not sure that travel teams are better for that than going to numerous showcases or camps.

I realize that not all travel teams are created equal. I know that there are some out there that do a great job. I believe this has more to do with the coaches themselves (their contacts - how hard they work for their kids) than just attending and playing in certain tournaments.

I am a firm believer that kids improving to the point of being college prospects are playing travel/showcase.  Those coaches are making the difference.  The kids aren't getting to college ball because of their high school coaches, in most cases. 

One caution, not all travel/showcase are alike.  You have to find best fit, just like when/if you look at college programs.

Travel teams aren't just about being seen. They're about playing at a high level of competition so the player is ready when his moment comes. Legion is terrible where my son grew up. A hitter can't constantly face 80 and expect to shine against 87-92.

Its a little more definitive with a pitcher. If the gun says 90 it doesn't matter where. But facing travel hitters will have him more prepared for the future. The only players I know of who went D1 without travel were pitchers.

Thanks for the replies guys! Again great stuff.

No doubt travel is a must, only way to get better is good coaching and playing against the best.

btw- played PG evoshield in AZ and WWB Ft Meyers

It was noted by bballman the impotance of his travel coach promoting his players.Got to think that could be the best way to get noticed.

That being said, my 2016 son's summer coach did recommend a good showcase instead of a college camp. Bit more bang for buck with more coaches in attendance versus a isolated camp.

He did also recommend my son tryout for the silver and black games.

Not sure what this is all about.

Not to spin this thread in a different direction, however is someone familiar with what the silver and black games are all about?

Sometimes I think that players and parents only think they "just need to be on a summer team" and they will be seen. This is so far from the truth it is not funny. It is one element of a "plan". The plan includes a list of your targeted schools and communicating what team your on and where you will be playing. If you are a pitcher then what game you will be pitching in - day/time/field. Just "playing on a team" is a waste of time and money IMO.

At least the teams my son played on did not practice. They had top kids from the region and they all came together for a weekend here or there and played. They were all outstanding in their own right and the coach knew each of their "plans" and what schools and positions they were interested being looked at, or who was following them. He was part of their "plan".

BTW these teams do not have to be full "academy teams". The one team my son played on was very reasonable (actually too cheap) but the coaches were doing it for the love of the game and to help out kids. Many of them were from families with limited financial resources and he made it work. I believe nearly every kid on this team is playing somewhere in the country now. This team played regionally and did not go to all of the National events, but it routinely beat some of the top nationally ranked teams in the country. 

My point is that it is just one element of your plan and you don't have to be playing on a Nationally ranked (and likely expensive) program to make it work.The coach HAS to be a known entity within the college programs however.

Good Luck!